'It is my experience that women often sacrifice their own dreams for the sake of family, career or simply the pressures from social ideologies. Women underestimate their own capabilities, hesitate to step out or suffer in isolation, whilst not realising that collectively we can stand much stronger.’ Born, raised and educated in Zimbabwe now living in UK, Desiree's ambition is to change such mind-sets.

With a background in business start-ups, hospitality, media, telco, education, youth empowerment and a passion to inspire, Desiree co-founded iProtégé, a digital eco-system of women that co-exists with face-to-face meetups that allow them to discover and discuss any ideas they may have for business and personal development. Our vision is to see more women at the forefront of cutting edge technology, innovation and world change and we do this by empowering them with enough knowledge to move from idea to actuality.

My life principles are founded in my faith in Jesus Christ and I desire to be an expression of the message of hope to women in all communities helping them uncover their unique gifts and create environments in which we can all flourish. I’m an advocate for helping, fostering, nurturing, growing and guiding young women to realise their dreams.

Born to a Seychellois mother and an American father who was a band member of legendary Motown group ‘The Four Tops’ Gizelle was raised in Manchester, UK with a multicultural upbringing steeped in soulful music from the very beginning…

From Southend, Essex Matt Linnen brings passion and energy to his music. With past projects taking him to festival stages, support slots with big bands and gigs over seas this seasoned musician has been about.

To celebrate Nobel Laureate Festival, Professor Esmail shares his respect for Sir Arthur Lewis Britain’s first black professor who's work lead to the Nobel Prize in 1979 at Manchester University where he also founded the school of Economics.

Lono is better known in the music industry in Hip-Hop & R&B circles as an Executive Producer/Artist Manager/Consultant launching the careers or working with artist such as The Beastie Boys, Foxy Brown, Faith Evans to name a few.

Rebecca is founder artistic director of Just Jones. In 2013 she was the first UK recipient of the Ibsen Scholarship from Norway Ministry of Arts for her innovative staging and adaptation of An Enemy of the People which toured nationally in the UK In 2016 she was awarded an artist commission by the Gulbenkian Foundation as part of their 3 year Inquiry into the Civic Role of Arts.

Brian Cummings, better known by his stage alias Metric Man, is a reggae and hip-hop musician based in New York and the D.C. area. Originally from Trinidad, Metric Man’s lifelong obsession with music started at the age of 6 in a local calypso competition.

Born to a Seychellois mother and an American father who was a band member of legendary Motown group ‘The Four Tops’ Gizelle was raised in Manchester, UK with a multicultural upbringing steeped in soulful music from the very beginning…

From Southend, Essex Matt Linnen brings passion and energy to his music. With past projects taking him to festival stages, support slots with big bands and gigs over seas this seasoned musician has been about.